Over the first two weeks of the SJHL season the Yorkton Terriers have found out one of the biggest changes in going from being one of the top teams in the league to being the defending league champions, each night is a big game for the opposition. With the Weyburn Red Wings coming out and giving the Terriers headaches on the opening weekend of the season splitting games with the Terriers in a home and home series, the Battlefords North Stars did one better in beating Yorkton in their home barn.
In mid-week action the North Stars came out with a gritty effort against the Terriers, showing that they wanted to prove themselves against the defending champs with a physical first period that ended scoreless.
Kailum Gervais and Ben Greenway started off the second period with the best fight of the 2013/14 SJHL season so far to attempt to give their respective teams a jump in a deadlock game. In the end it would be the North Stars who got the jump scoring three unanswered goals in the second period en route to a 4-0 win over the Terriers to move Yorkton's early season record to 1-2.
With their Viterra Division rivals in the Estevan Bruins coming into town Saturday night the Terriers needed to step up and make a statement with a new squad early in the season. They did just that with a blend of newcomers and 20 year old talent stepping up to defend home ice against the Bruins.
Just over five minutes into the first period rookie Zack Zadorozniak of Foam Lake put home a goahead goal to put the Terriers on top. Early in the second period veteran stepped up as Brady Norrish clanged home a slap shot from the point to beat Matt Gibney and put the Terriers up 2-0.
Not to be outdone the Bruins came roaring back to tie the game thanks to goals from Nolan Nicholas and Darcy DeRoose to put the pressure back on the Terriers. With returning forwards Dylan Johnson and Josh Ellis missing on Saturday due to minor injuries the Terriers got their scoring punch from an emerging forward prospect as Jordan Ross finished a rebound on a Gibney shot to give Yorkton a 3-2 win. Most importantly to assistant coach Casey O'Brien it was another improvement all around for the Terriers.
"It wasn't important that we came back with a win on home ice after losing to Battlefords on Wednesday in the sense of the standings, but more so to show that we are on the right course with starting the season and working towards our end goal and I think we did that tonight," says O'Brien.
O'Brien also tipped his hat to the North Stars for their impressive performance on Wednesday.
"Battlefords really showed that they can be a contender in the North so far this season and I think you saw why on Wednesday and it was our first time seeing them but we get a look at them again soon which will be a good chance at measuring where we are at development wise when we play them next."
O'Brien was also pleased with the production out of young wingers in Zadorozniak and Ross with some key veterans out of the lineup. "Having Ellis and Johnson out of the lineup was a good chance to see who can come in amongst the youngsters and produce so it was great to see two of our new wingers answer the call with goals," mentions O'Brien who noted that the Terriers returned a lot of their players on the blueline this season, leaving them a bit thinner at forward.
Twenty year old forward Tayler Thompson had an injury scare during the win, crawling off the ice after blocking a shot on the penalty kill. Thompson return and performed capably, leading by example according to O'Brien.
"When you see that a 20 year old who has had WHL experience like Thompson coming out and showing the youngsters that there are guys in their last year of Junior hockey that are going to lay it out there every night it really sets the tone for the guys coming into defending the title this season."
One of those players who knows that role in mixing in with a loaded roster is Ross, who scored the game winner in addition to a crucial power play goal on Opening Night at the FAA. A former Tisdale Trojan in the SMAAAHL, Ross says that after adjusting to not being one of the biggest forwards on the ice at 6 2' making the jump to Junior hockey, proving that he can continue to get timely goals is top priority.
"I know that I have to get my conditioning up as well as my strength to transition to the Junior level, but I also want to contribute right now to a team that won the title last season so to get two goals at home in three games is a thrill," says Ross.
Several Terriers spent the week in Warman as part of the SJHL Showcase including head coach Trent Cassan. O'Brien said the time will be used on skill development and to nurse some minor injuries before playing the Weyburn Red Wings on the road for the second time in 2013/14. Yorkton lost the first game 3-0. Going back to Weyburn expect the Terriers to come out with the thoughts of reminding their Viterra Division rivals who won the South Conference last season in another test for the new look Terriers.
Yorkton's next home game will be Tuesday in a highly anticipated Canalta Cup rematch with the Humboldt Broncos.
